Page 47 of Dust to Dust

I upped my dramatics. My hand went to my heart as I fanned shock and excitement, "That might be the sweetest thing you've ever said to me, Dashy." I looked to Damian, who had cleared his plate free of myshit, "Are you suggesting Damian likes to eat shit?" I joked.

Dash snorted, and then the whole table broke out into laughter. I paused and watched them all. At this moment, we were normal young adults without a care about the future. But moments don't last long. Soon the somber air would come rolling in like a thundercloud.

Titan slipped his hand under the table and grabbed my thigh. I looked over; he was entirely at ease. He picked up his cup of coffee and sipped it slowly as his thumb drew small circles over my jean-covered legs. Last night, Titan made love to me more times than I remembered. I lost track after the fifth time. We barely slept. We both kept stirring to ensure we were in each other's arms. It amazed me how the mind could make excuses and turn them into fuel. I had gone from trying to convince myself that I hated Titan to seeking out his touch and agreeing to be his wife. Now, I was determined to protect him no matter what the cost.

After we finished, Dash ordered Mila to wait in the car for him. I could see the disdain on her face as two guards escorted her to the armored vehicle.

"She can handle more than you give her credit for," I said to Dash as my eyes followed Mila.

He leveled his eyes to mine, and his blonde hair fell loose on his forehead, hiding some of its furrowed anger, "I, of all people, know Mila can handle a lot. It's not a question of what she can handle, Nova."

"Then what is the question? Mila is a flower, rare and beautiful. You've placed her inside without any sun, Dash. If you keep at it, she will wilt and weather."

Damian leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and observed Dash. So Damian agreed with me. Titan slipped his hand on my lower back, "Not all of us can cope with the darkness in this world. Dash knows what Mila can handle." Titan intervened, bending down as he kissed the top of my head. There was that hint of something that happened to Mila again. I could see the anger and frustration in her abstract paintings. As much as Mila had opened up to me, she still left her past with Dash a big secret.

Dash pushed his chair in and ran a hand through his blonde hair, pushing it back off his forehead, "You want Nova to be a part of our brotherhood now," He glanced at Titan, who nodded. "Being a part of us means we don't tear each other down. We watch all our backs, Nova." Dash stressed.

I stepped forward and out of Titan's touch, "I am watching your back. I'm warning you, not threatening." I placed my palms on the table as I leaned forward, "Mila can handle shit. All the secrets you hide from her push her away and turn her into a new person you might not like."

Titan grabbed me from behind, "That's enough, you too. You're worst than Anders and Leo."

"God help us all," Damian snorted.

"Who are they?"

"Anders is a fucking lunatic that carries around an ax. He stabbed Titan with it once. Leo is like a bear coming out of hibernation and always grumpy and hungry."

I eyed Titan, "Anders stabbed you?" Why did that knowledge make me want to grab an ax and teach this Anders a lesson?

Titan shrugged as if it was nothing. He touched his shoulder where the thicker raised scar I came to know was placed. "It was a bet gone wrong."

I licked my lips, wishing I had some of my flavored lipgloss on. I'd hold onto that knowledge for later. Facing Dash again, I gave the best apology I could muster, "I'm not trying to pick a fight. I mean what I said, Dash." I stressed his name, hoping he'd realize that I was trying to be serious by not using his nickname.

Dash looked long at me as if trying to break into my inner thoughts. He finally gave up and exited the house. Titan turned me to him, "Do you know something?"

Well, that's sticky ground now, Nova,Ghost goaded.

Technically I don't know what Mila is planning. Did I give her a push and shove? Yes, Ghost, I did. But the baby bird flew out of the nest, and where she lands or turns for help is out of my hands. Plus, I told Dash straight up that she was going to run.

"I already told Dash she was going to run." I wasn't going to reveal more. Maybe Dash didn't know everything he was pretending to know.

"What else?"

I shrugged, but I felt a need to confess to Titan. I didn't like that feeling. "I encouraged Mila," I admitted. "Plus," I raised a brow in question, "If Dash knows she is running, why are you asking me this? Unless Dashy doesn't know it all?"

Titan narrowed his baby blues, "Encouraged her to do what?"

I bit my lip, wishing we were alone. From the corner of my eye, I could still see Damian leaning on the wall, fully listening to us. Ignoring Damian I focus on Titan. His eyes danced with mine as I shamelessly undressed him with my mind. He looked delectable, his biceps barely restrained in his tight navy shirt. The material looked offensive and was begging to be ripped off. His golden hair fell like fields of untouched wheat shining in the sun. Titan was a creature poets would have written about; he was the model and mold that renaissance artists glorified.

And he is ours.Ghost beamed.

Titan lowered his head, "Keep looking at me like that, babygirl, and I'll take you right here.” Titan ran his nose along my jaw and pressed his full lips to mine. I leaned forward to kiss him, but he pulled away. "I can protect you from many people," he stressed. His eyes searched mine, "I don'twantto have to protect you from my brother."

"What exactly does Dash know?" I probed.

"I'm not falling for that, Nova. You know better than to think I'll reveal his hand."

I dropped my guard, "I don't know Mila's plan. I know she is going to run. We all know that. Look at her. She'd been fed up, defeated. Dash's love has smothered her when it should have made her stronger."

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